Garter



March 16, 1954 P. B. STROH 2,671,904

CARTER Filed March 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

March 16, 1954 P. B. STROH GARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1952numb IN VEN TOR. fflzwmfifiwh BY 7 I ATTU/P/VEVJ Patented Mar. 16, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates broadly to womens hosiery and garter meanstherefor.

More Specifically, my invention relates to improvements in femininegarters of the type adapted to be worn around the small part of thethigh immediately below the buttocks. Garters of this type are highlydesirable in that they provide means of holding up the stockings withoutthe necessity of garter belts, girdles, and the like. However,structures of this type have heretofore proved unsatisfactory due to thefact that, during the various movements of the leg of the wearer, toomuch stress was exerted directly upon the garter. As a result, thegarter was caused to drop down upon the leg. The only alternative was totighten the garter sufliciently to prevent this, in which case thewearers garter became uncomfortable or her circulation interferedwith--or both. I

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a stocking and agarter therefore which may be worn with perfect comfort by the wearerand with complete assurance that the garter will not become dislodged orlowered due to the stress exerted thereon by the stocking duringmovements of the leg.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the classdescribed which is extremely neat in appearance and which is extremelysimple to apply and remove from the leg of the wearer.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe class described, which is relatively inexpensive to produce andwhich will not add materially to the bulk or weight of the stocking orgarter.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attacheddrawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a feminine leg with a stockingand garter built in accordance with one form of my invention positionedthereon;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged view in perspective of the garter shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of Fig. 1, showingthe attaching means in an unsnapped position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a modifie form of my invention; and

Fig. '7 is a view in section taken on the line.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings and, morespecifically, to the structure of Figs. l-5 inclusive, the numeral Iindicates a full-length feminine hose or stocking designed to cover thelower leg and preferably having a reinforced upper portion or welt 2surrounding the thigh above the knee, designated by the letter A.Secured to the free upper end of the reinforced portion 2, preferably bystitching throughout the circumference of same, is a highly elastic cuffportion 3, preferably and as shown formed by elastic threador cordloosely woven to provide an open mesh. Secured to the free upper edgeportion of the elastic cufl 3. and projecting upwardly therefrom incircums ferentially-spaced relationship are tongue elements 4 preferablyformed from non-elastic tex! tile material. Tongue'elements 4 areprovided with fastening means such as the vertically! spaced male andfemale snap fastener elements 5 and 6 respectively.

Adapted to cooperate with the stocking l and highly elastic cuff 3 is agarter element identified in its entirety by the numeral 1 andcomprising a band, preferably and as shown, formed from a pair ofcircumferentially-spaced elongated elastic members 8 and 9 and a pair ofrelatively short non-elastic members ID and H preferably formed fromfabric or the like and interposed between opposite ends of said members8 and 9. Member II is shown as being provided with a plurality of eyesl2 at longitudinallyspaced points adjacent its free end [3. Any de sirednumber of eyes l2 may be provided to permit circumferentialadjustability of the garter I. This may be accomplished by engaging thedesired set of eyes l2 with the hooks M secured to the free outer end ofthe elastic member 9.

As shown, the elastic members 8 and 9 of the garter l are provided withcircumferentiallyspaced pairs of closely-spaced slits l5, through whichslits is interlaced an elastic strip [6. Strip I5 is likewisecircumferentially adjustable as indicated at I? (see particularly Fig.3) and presents relatively short anchoring portions l8 overlying theouter surface of the garter 1 for cooperation of thecircumferentially-spaced anchoring tongues 4 projecting upwardly fromthe highly elastic cull 3 of the stocking I, as shown particularly inFigs. 4 and 5.

In use, the garter l above-described is placed about the thigh of thewearer, preferably immediately below the buttocks, which portion isrelatively thinner than the muscular portion immediately therebelow. Thehooks I4 on the free end of the elastic portion 9 are placed through theproper set of eyes 12 so as to achieve the proper snugness of the garter1 with respect to the leg. The garter "I need not be too tight to beuncomfortable or to interfere with the circulation of the blood throughthe leg. Furthermore, this portion of the leg is relatively free frompressure points, that is, veins or arteries close to the surface.Simultaneously, the elastic strip is then adjusted to snugly encompassthe leg of the wearer. Thereafter, the stocking is placed in theposition indicated in Fig. l and the tongue 4 inserted under therelatively short anchoring portions 18 of the elastic strip l6 overlyingthe surface of the elastic garter 1. Finally, the snap fasteners 5 and 6are fastened as shown in Fig. 5. With this arrangement, I have foundthat the highly elastic cuif 3 constantly exerts suflicient tension uponthe stocking l to hold same up, free from undesirable wrinkles andlooseness. On the other hand, the high degree of elasticity of the cuff3 permits movements of the leg to any extreme without either causing thestocking l to exert a restrictive tightness on the leg or to exertsufficient downward force upon the garter l to unseat same or to causesame to be pulled downwardly. Se-

curing of the circumferentially-spaced tongues 4 to thecircumferentially-spaced anchoring portions iii of the elastic strip 16I have found to provide even greater assurance against unseating of thegarter I, when periodic tugging forces are exerted thereon through thetongues 4 due to reciprocating movements of the leg incident to walkingetc.

In the modified structure of Fig. 6, like parts of the garter I areindicated by like marks with prime marks added. As there shown, theelastic cuff 3 is stitched or otherwise secured throughout itscircumference at its upper edge portion to the lower edge portion of thegarter I. Also. as shown, a plurality of fastening elements I9 of thetype commonly used in the garter art are secured to the lower edge ofthe elastic cuff 3 and depend therefrom in circumferentiallyspacedrelation for attachment to the welt or reinforced upper portion of thestocking.

While I have shown a preferred and one modified form of my invention, itis obvious that the same is capable of still further modificationwithout departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a garter, a relatively wide primary band, said primary bandcomprising a pair of circumferentially spaced elongated elastic membersand a pair of relatively short non-elastic members interposed betweenopposite ends of said elastic members, and a relatively narrow secondaryband extending around the interior of said primary band intermediate itssides and in parallel relation thereto, said secondary band beinginterlaced through said primary band at circumferentially spaced pointsto provide circumferentially spaced stocking anchoring portions alongthe exterior surface of said primary band.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the free ends of each ofsaid bands is provided with cooperating fastener means.

PATRICIA B. STROH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 22,288 Linder Mar. 16, 1943 1,279,753 Paymer Sept. 24,1918 1,842,996 Pelton Jan. 26} 1932 2,190,560 Gaines Feb. 13, 19402,351,199 Fry June 13, 1944

